Dough divider



F. STREICH DOUGH DIVIDER Filed Jan. 14, 1928 4 SheetS-Sheel'l v1 Zu/e/zor/ Zim/f shew@ gd CMM? F. STREICH DOUGH DIVIDER Dec. 10, 1929.

`Filed Jan. 14, 1928y 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 o .MNO E.

J A H..

F. STREICH DOUGH DIVIDER' Dec. A10, 1929.

Filed Jan. 14, 1928 4 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. l0,l 1929. F. s TRElcH DOUGH DIVIDER Filed Jan. 14,4 1928 4 sheets-sheet 4 I@ Zyj 2(7), 21, and said levers are reciprocated, in timed relation to each other by said cams.

As a'preference the lever 17, is composed of` two arms 17, 17C, pivoted vtogether and a coiled compression spring 17d, between the two arms. The spring acts to hold them in extended position, but permits the member 17",

' to yield somewhat when the force of the spring is overcome by dough contained in the feed Chamber 14, between the feed plunger 13 Y and the dough measuring device. Co-acting stops 17 e, 17 f, on the two arms 17 b, 17 c, of the lever' 17, are provided for limiting the relative movement between the two arms in the directionimparted by the spring 17d. The parts thus far described constitute a common and well known type of dough divider mechanismand its construction and Voperation is -well known to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.

Rotatively mounted 1n alignment with the Vfeed chamber 14, is a measuring head 24,

vvwhich contains a radially extending opening in which is slidably mounted a dough ejecting plunger 25, which plunger has a face 25a, that forms thebottom of ameasuringpocket26, into which' the dough is vforced by the feed plunger 13 when the measuring head is in the position illustrated in Fig. 2. Said ejecting plunger is also employed for ejecting or discharging a measured lump Vof dough from the pocket 26, after which the lump is severed into smaller lumps of predetermined size by Vdough severingk mechanismy as will appear 'are so proportioned and arranged that as the shaft 23 and crank arm 30 are moved through one complete revolution, the measuring head 24 is turned upon its axis of rotation from the position seen in Fig. 2 to that seen in Fig. 6

and back again. A limited amount of lost f motion is provided between the linkv 31 and rocker'farm 29 whereby said link may have a VVlimited amount of reciprocatory movement withoutalfectingthe measuring head and said lost motion is obtained by providing a vslot 32%L in the end of the link 31 which is connected to the rocker arm 29.

Theradial opening in the measuring head 24 vis of the same or substantially the samer cross section as the feed chamber 14 and forms an extension of said feed chamber v when the parts are in the position seen in Fig. 2. The ejecting plunger 25 nts in said openingand is capable of moving back and forth therethrough. Means are provided for limiting the movement of the ejecting plunger 25, which is caused by the introduction of dough into the pocket 26, and forl moving the ejecting plunger in a directionto eject the Y dough from said pocket. In the form of means illustrated, a cam block or arm 32 is provided which is supportedby a cross'rod 33 secured in lugs 34 that are provided upon the frame of the machine, said cam block jor arm. 32V being held'against movement along the rod 33 by collars 35, secured to said rod 33. The cam block orarm32 has a cam face 36, which is engaged by a roller 37, mounted -upon theplunger 25 and said cam face 36 is. veccentrically disposed with respect to the axis of the' measuring head, said cam face approaching the axis lof thefmeas'uring head along av curved line as shown, whereby the plunger 25 is moved fromV the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 6 when the vroller 37 travels along said camV face from the first mentioned position of the roller to Y the other. Any dough'contained in the pocket Y '26 is, therefore, ejected fromthe pocket as the measuring head approaches the position seenin-Fig.V 6. The cam arm 32, being fulcrumedfuponthe rod 33, it maybe adjusted thereon so as to bring' its free end closer to the axis of the measuring head orfarther away therefrom, as the case may be in regulating the depth of the pocket 26. rlhe depth of thepocket is l regulated by' a threaded rodfor screw 38 mounted lina yoke 39,.which is supported by the frame Yof the machine. One end of thek yoke'may be pivoted to theframe'as at 40 and the Aother. end secured theretooby afprin toV the measuring head. The screw`38, -may This arrangement provides 'means Y whereby the yoke, and parts supported there, by, may be swung back for obtaining accessbe provided witha'hand wheel .42, upon one Aend and a` disc like pointer 43is adjustably secured uponthe screw and co-operates with a ymeasuring rod 44, mounted on the yoke and havinggraduations thereon for indicating the depth of the p ocket. YOne end of the screwl 88, engages withthe cam arm 32 and forms l' 'a stopjor abutment against which the cam` arm 1s pressed when the dough'ls forced into" the pocket by thev feedplunger.

- Below the measuring head 1s located the y l dough severing mechanism whichdivides the measured lump of- 'material into smaller lumps or pieces of predetermined size. The

prises a number' of rotary, disc like knives 45, mounted upon a shaft 46,"which is "'120 form of severing mechanism illustrated, Acomj ournaled in brackets 47, secured to and supg ported by the frame of the machine. Anyv desired number of knivesV may be employed,

depending upon the vnumber vof lumps* or f pieces` into which it isy desired to divide the measured large lumps. Vllxte'nding parallelwith the axis of the knives is a roller 48 which? arrows thereon'.

'co-operates with` theknives in severing the dough, and' said roller is mounted up on a shaft 49",' journaled Vin brackets 50,'secured to and mounted upon the frame ofthe machine. The knives and roller remainy quiescent except when the measured lump of doughv has been discharged from the measuring head, and they' are rotated during thel interval that the measuring head is being returned from the position seen infFig; 6 to that seen in Fig; 2. The mechanism tor intermittently' rotating theV knives '45,., and. roller 48, will now beA described. Y y

Connected' tothe link 3i, isa rack vsupporting' member 51, here shown in the form of a loop like' member which surrounds the roller shaft 49'." A toothed rack bar'52, isv secured tothe rack supporting member 51,

and meshes with'a pinion 53, loosefupon theV shaft 49. To the pinion 53, is secured a crank arm 5i, which carries a spring pressed pawl 55, that is arranged to engage with a'ratchet lor toothed member 5.6, keyed or otherwise secured tothe roller shaft 49.- shown the ratchet or vtooth membery 56, contains one tooth, the arrangement of the parts being 'such that the pinion 53 is rotated through one completerevolution each time that the rack bar 52 is in'oved in either direction, through its full length of travel, the resultbeing 'that' the p'awl 55, is always returned to the same piace, in position for engagement vwith the single' tooth of the ratchet or'toothed member 56. The ratchet being ,fastup-on the roller shaft 49, said shaft and therewiththe roller 8a-re rotated whenever the ratchet 'or toothed member is rotated. Upon the shafts 46, 49, are intermeshing pinions 57, 58,1wl1ich cause the vroller 48, and knives 45, to rotate in unison and in the directions indicated by the The knives enter a iiour pan 59,. supported on the brackets 4.7'. One wall 59a ofthe no ir pan entends upwards between* the knives, and is formed with slots through which the knives pass. A: scraper 60 supported by the brackets 50, is provided for `the roller -'8, and engages with the lower face of the roller and removes any particles of dough that may adhere thereto.

The discharge end of the bottom wall of the feed chamber 14 continues alongr an arc of a circle, concentric with the axis' of the measuring head, and provides an arcuate wall 61,. on the lower edge of which is a scraper 62, which acts to scrape the measured lump away from the plunger in case it adheres thereto after being discharged from the pocket and while the measuring head is being turned back from the position seen. in Fig. 6- to that. seen i-n Fig. 2.

' `Below the dough severing means is a travcling apron or conveyor belt 6'3", upon which the individual small lumps ofV dough. are discharged from the knives, and' sai' apron is trained. around rollers 64, 65, one of which is mounted upon a bearing bracket 66 carried.

the bracket 66. Upon the shaft 72 is a gear wheel 7 3', which meshes with a gear wheel 7st, fast uponl a short shaft 75, also journaled yin the bracket 66and a sprocket chain 76,

trained over sprocket Wheels 77, 78, on the shaft '75; and shaft of the roller 64, completes the train of gearing for the apron 63. On the shaft 75, is a roller 79, of considerably greater diameter `than that of the roller 64 and trained around said roller 79, is a conveyor vbelt 80,-upon which the lumps of dough are discharged by the apron 63, andr carried tov Vanother machine `for a subsequent -operation, as is well understood. Y

In the operation of the divider, a batch of dough is delivered into the hopper 1l and a qu'antity'of the dough enters the feed chamber 14E each time that the knife 12 and plunger 13 are retracted. Th'e knife and plunger are then moved forward and part of the dough in advance of'thefeed plunger is forced into the measuring pocket 26. During the forward movement of the feed plunger, the measuring head remains stationary in the i position seen in Fig. 2 and this is made possible because of the lost motion connection between the'link 31 and rocker arm 29. Aften the dough has been forced into vthe pocket 26, the upper end of ther slot32a in the link 3l engages the wrist pinof the rocker arm 29', and as the link is moved downward by the crank arm 30, the rocker arm 29, is swung down from the position seen in Fig. 2, to that seen in Fig. 6 and the measuring head is moved therewith, the lump: of dough contained in the measuring pocket being severed. from the remainder in the feed chamber as the measuring head is turned from the position seen in Fig. 2 to that seen in Fig. 6.

As the measuring head approaches the end` vhead is turnedgback to itsV former position .and incase the lump of dough adheres to the end Jface of the plunger. it encounters the scraper 62, and is scrapedL off the kplunger and falls into the spacefbetween the knives V and Vroller 48. During the downward movement ofthe link 31 the rack barn52, is

V'drawn viromthe position scenda-Fig.' 2 to that seen in Figs. G and 7 fand the pinion 53 andi therewith the crank arm 54 are turned backward through one :complete .revolution. As soon as the'link Slis'moved in an upward direction-,the rack barkis moved upward and towards the rright fromthe position seen in [Fig 7 andthe pinion 53, and therewith the crank arm 54-are movedfin the direction of rthearrow in Fig. 7, whereupon the pawl 55 engagesl with theratchet or..tooth member `56, andirotates said ratchet or tooth member and therewiththe shaft 49 andv roller 48.

The rotary knives 45 are rotated in unison with said roller 48, through the instrumenf Y tality'wof the intermeshing pinions v57 and vissevered into "a number oit smaller lumps lodgediupon the knives 45 vand `roller 48, itV

or pieces of predetermined size, some ci which pass. between theulfznives andnothersat the sides of the endmost ylniives,land fall upon the traveling 'aprony whichcoiiveys them 4to the conveyor belt 80 and discharge-s themA upon said belt which carries theintoanother machine -or 'a' subsequent operation. VInas much as thelnives rotate through rtheilour contained in the-flour pan .59, a small quan- .tity of flour is carried tothe severed sides of the lumps, thereby preventing. themV from lsticking together after they havebeen severed; y i From' the above itis apparent that the long lumps of doughmay be accurately measf tired in the measuring pocket and if any air pockets occur in the long lumps they v are i `lilrerlfyto be distributed more evenly 'throughout the entire lump,V Furthermore, that by reason of the construction and arrangement of the severing Lmeans the Vmeasured lumps may be accuratelyl divided into smaller lumps or pieces of predetermined size and without any danger of adhering to the cutting mechanism or adhering to each other after having 1 beendivided. Y

More or less variation of the exact details of construction is possible without departing vfrom the spirit of this invention; I desire, therefore, not to limit myself to the exact 'form ofY the construction shown" and de- The measured luinprof `dough having disclosed ing plunger slid-ingin said pocket, and means i oroscillatingsaid measuring head, of a piti- 'otally mounted cam member having" ak face non-concentric with respect to the axis Vo rotationof the measuring "head, one endV vof 'and away from the axis of rotation of the` measuring head, and abutmentl meansf'lior said cami member. 5

2. 1n= a dough divideignthe combination witharotary measuring head havingapocket in which the material is measured, an ejecting plunger sliding in said pocket, and means Yfor, oscillating said measuring head, of'a vpiv- .otally mountedy cam member having a Jiacek iion,concentric with 'respectvr tol thel aXiso rotation of the measuring head, Lone end of said v.c anr member being 'adjustable .toward .v .and away from the axisof rotation of the measuring head, Vand adJustably Vmounted abutment meansl for saidcam member for.

'regulating the depth) "0f Said `masuring pocketV`A 1'" dough divider, the ciombiiiation with a rotary'measuring head having a pocket i` .in which the material .is measured,1an.eject-v ingplunger sliding in said pocket, and meansv for oscillatingsaid'measuring head, oi: a cam armsupport,a cam arm fulcrumed thereon and having Va cam i'ace Ynonfconcen'tric with said support and Jforming a ment forsaid'cam arm. f

'4. In a 'doughr divider, the combination :withan oscillatory measuring head having a pocket in {which the material is'measurech'an Vejecting plungerV sliding` in said pocket, and

V means .for actuating Vsaid plunger, lof a'rotary ldough severingV lmember and a rotary'coop erating 'member located adjacent ,the measurlrespectf'to the axis oi' the measuring head, a support andan adJiistmentscrewmounted in n adjustable abut- 'i ies jing head in position to. receive doughdis- Y .charged therefrom andV operating to sever the ejected measured material intosmallerpieces oi' predetermined size, and actuating means :tor oscillating` the measuring head andV rotatingsaid dough severing members.

Y 5. In a dough divideigthe combination .Y

with ya measuring head having` av pocket in which the material Vis measured, 1an ejecting plunger slidinginsaid pocket, and means or actuating said plunger, ofV severalVV yrotary dough severing knives and a rotary co-operating member vlocated below said measuring c headand operating to sever the measured material into smaller pieces of predetermined ize, and actuating means Jfor rotating said knives and co-operating member.

6.- In a doughdivider, y'the combination 'with amea'suring head'having a pocket in which the V material is measured, an ejecting plunger sliding ,in VsaidV pocket, and means ltor actuating said plunger, of a rotary doughA severing member anda rotary cri-*operating roller located belowy vthe rmeasuring hea-d and zoY vsaid. camuinember being adjustable toward operating to sever the measured material into smaller pieces of predeterminedV size, and actuating means for rotating said dough severing members.

7. In a dough divider, the combination with a measuring head having a pocket in which the material is measured, an ejecting plunger sliding in said pocket, and means for actuating said plunger, of several rotary dough severing knivesand a rotary co-operating roller located below said measuring head and operating to sever the measured material into smaller pieces of predetermined size, and actuating means for rotating said knives and co-operating member.

8. In a dough divider, the combination with a measuring head having a pocket in which the material is measured, an ejecting plunger sliding insaid pocket, and means for actuating said plunger, o a rotary dough severing member and a rotary co-operating member located below the measuring head and'operating to sever the measured material into smaller pieces oin predetermined size, and intermittently acting mechanism for rotating said dough severing member and cooperating member in timed relation to the movements of the ejecting plunger whereby the ejected measured dough is severed into smaller pieces of predetermined size.

9. In a dough divider, the combination with a measuringhead-having a pocket in' which the mate 1ial is measured, an ejecting plunger sliding in said pocket and means for actuating said plunger, of rotary dough dividing knives and a roller co-operating therewith and located below said measuring head, shafts for said knives and roller, intermeshing pinions on said shafts, and means for intermittently rotating said roller.

10. In a dough divider, the combination with a rotary, reciprocatory measuring head having a pocket in which the material is measured, an ejecting plunger sliding in said pocket and means for actuating said plunger, of rotary lump severing mechanism located below said measuring head, and an actuating member operatively connected to said measurr ing head and to said lump severing mechanism. f

11. In a dough divider, the'combination with a rotary, reciprocatory measuring head having a pocket in which the material is measured, an ej ecting plunger sliding in said pocket and means for actuating said plunger, oit' rotary lump severing mechanism located below said measuring head, a reciprocatory y link operatively connected to said measuring head, a rack supporting member connected to said link, a rack bar on said supporting member, a pinionmeshing with' said rack bar, and pawl` and ratchetmechanism operatively connecting said pinion with said lump severing mechanism.

12. In a dough divider, the combination with a rotary, reciprocatory measuring head, having a pocket in which the material is measured, an ejecting plunger insaid pocket and means for actuating said plunger, of a plurality of dough severing knives and a coacting roller, rotatively mounted below said measuring head and means for intermittently rotating said dough severing knives and co-acting roller.

13. In a dough divider, the combination with a drive shaft, a crank arm thereon, a rotary, reciprocatory'measuring head having a pocket in which the material is measured, an ejecting plunger sliding in said pocket, a stationary cam arm engaging with said plunger, a rocker arm connected to said measuring head and a link connecting said rocker arm with said crank arm, of co-acting, rotary, dough severing members located below said measuring head and operative conL nections between said dough severing members and said link for rotating said dough severing members.

a pocket in which the material is measured, an

ejecting plunger sliding in .said pocket, a stationary cam arm engaging with said plunger, a rocker arm connected to said measuring head and a link connecting said rocker arm with said ci'ank arm, of co-acting, rotary, dough severing members located below said measuring head and means for intermittently rotating said dough severing members. y

15. In a dough divider, the combination with a measuring head having la pocket in which the material is measured, an ejecting plunger in said pocket and means for actuating said plunger, of co-actiiig, rotary, dough severing members located adjacent Y said,

measuring head and means for rotating said dough severing` members. f

16. In a dough divider, the combination with a measuring head having a pocket in which the material is measured, an ejecting` plunger in said pocket and means for actuating said plunger, of intermittently rotated, co-acting.

L, dough severing members located below said measuring head.

FRANK sinnion. 

